Tea in the Treetopshttp://www.teainthetreetops.com
Podcast and Book ReviewsTue, 23 Jul 2019 12:13:19 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.6110930643TeaintheTreetopshttps://feedburner.google.comAngels Anthology, D Kershawhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/angels-anthology-d-kershaw/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/angels-anthology-d-kershaw/#respondTue, 23 Jul 2019 12:13:19 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7191Hello, blog readers. I know, things have been scarce over here on the review front, but this one may go some way to explaining that. I’ve been doing a lot more writing than reading lately, and one of my little stories has made its way into an actual book. The... Read more »

Beatific angels, holy wars, kitty saviours, epic battles between good and evil, devils and demons, fallen angels and many more tantalising tiny tales.

What miracles can one hundred debut to bestselling authors do with 100 words?

More than three hundred 100-word drabbles from around the world.

Hello, blog readers. I know, things have been scarce over here on the review front, but this one may go some way to explaining that. I’ve been doing a lot more writing than reading lately, and one of my little stories has made its way into an actual book.

The Angels microfiction anthology is a collection of stories of exactly one hundred words each. There are several other anthologies in publication this year on different dark fantasy themes, but this one is about angels—one of my favourite topics. No, I’m not particularly religious (or at all, even), it’s just that these guardians/warriors/fluffy winged assbutts are one of my favourite supernatural creatures to read or watch shows about, so having a story published in this collection is a dream come true, really.

The stories range from funny to dramatic, prosaic to conversational. On some pages there are illustrations, but all of them are cleanly laid out and easy to read. It’s amazing how much each author can fit into just one hundred words.

As my hundred-word debut, I’m honoured to be a part of it, and I’d love you to check it out as well. Oh, and if you’re wondering which one is mine, I’ve submitted it under my real name: Anika Claire. Why do I feel like I just came out?

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/angels-anthology-d-kershaw/feed/07191Podcast Episode #70 – Good Omenshttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/podcast-episode-70/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/podcast-episode-70/#respondFri, 19 Jul 2019 12:54:19 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7177Welcome to the seventieth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we discuss both book and TV series versions of Good Omens as well as catch up other things we’ve been reading and watching. This episode was recorded on 19 July 2019.... Read more »

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/07/podcast-episode-70/feed/07177http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TeaintheTreetops-Ep70-GoodOmens.mp3Podcast Episode #69 – Looking forward, looking backhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/06/podcast-episode-69/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/06/podcast-episode-69/#respondFri, 07 Jun 2019 13:42:17 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7159Welcome to the sixty-ninth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we discuss books coming out in the next few months, Philippa has a small rant about the end of Game of Thrones (spoilers) as well as catch up on what we’ve... Read more »

]]>Welcome to the sixty-ninth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni.

In this episode, we discuss books coming out in the next few months, Philippa has a small rant about the end of Game of Thrones (spoilers) as well as catch up on what we’ve been reading and watching. This episode was recorded on 7 June 2019.

We hope you enjoy listening and we would love to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would like us to talk about in particular? Just let us know!

You can listen to past episodes of the podcast, as well as the various ways to subscribe on the main podcast page. You can also record a voice message for us via the Speakpipe widget there.

Our title music is titled Sea of Dreams and has been used with the kind permission of the composer, Bart Stoop. You can hear more of Bart’s beautiful music at facebook.com/BartStoop.

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/06/podcast-episode-69/feed/07159http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/TeaintheTreetops-Ep69-LookingForward.mp3Podcast Episode #68 – The Battle of Winterfellhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/04/podcast-episode-68/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/04/podcast-episode-68/#commentsSat, 27 Apr 2019 14:02:54 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7143Welcome to the sixty-eighth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we discuss the first two episodes of Game of Thrones season 8, as well as catch up on what we’ve been reading and watching. This episode was recorded on 26 April... Read more »

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/04/podcast-episode-68/feed/17143http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/TeaintheTreetops-Ep68-BattleofWinterfell.mp3Podcast Episode #67 – Wizards of Oncehttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/podcast-episode-67/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/podcast-episode-67/#respondSat, 16 Mar 2019 13:50:16 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7126Welcome to the sixty-seventh episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we give a joint review of The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell, as well as catch up on what we’ve been reading. This episode was recorded on 15 March 2019.... Read more »

]]>Welcome to the sixty-seventh episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni.

In this episode, we give a joint review of The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell, as well as catch up on what we’ve been reading. This episode was recorded on 15 March 2019.

We hope you enjoy listening and we would love to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would like us to talk about in particular? Just let us know!

You can listen to past episodes of the podcast, as well as the various ways to subscribe on the main podcast page. You can also record a voice message for us via the Speakpipe widget there.

Our title music is titled Sea of Dreams and has been used with the kind permission of the composer, Bart Stoop. You can hear more of Bart’s beautiful music at facebook.com/BartStoop.

The Wizards of Once, Cressida Cowell [starts at 26:00]

Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.

Wizard boy, Xar, should have come in to his magic by now, but he hasn’t, so he wants to find a witch and steal its magic for himself. But if he’s got any chance of finding one, he will have to travel into the forbidden Badwoods.

Xar doesn’t realise he is about to capture an entirely different kind of enemy. A Warrior girl called Wish.

And inside this book, at this very moment, two worlds collide and the fate of the land is changed forever.

But something that has been sleeping for hundreds of years is stirring …

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/podcast-episode-67/feed/07126http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TeaintheTreetops-Ep67-WizardsofOnce.mp3Review: The Wizards of Once, Cressida Cowellhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/review-the-wizards-of-once-cressida-cowell/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/review-the-wizards-of-once-cressida-cowell/#commentsSun, 10 Mar 2019 12:43:15 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7115Cressida Cowell might be best known for her plentiful How To Train Your Dragon series, but this new series is well worth a read. It may be classed as a children’s book, but if you’re the sort of person (of any age) who likes dark, mysterious stories, full of magic... Read more »

This is the story of a young boy Wizard and a young girl Warrior who have been taught to hate each other like poison; and the thrilling tale of what happens when their two worlds collide.

Perfect for boys and girls who love fantasy adventure ...

Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.

Wizard boy, Xar, should have come in to his magic by now, but he hasn't, so he wants to find a witch and steal its magic for himself. But if he's got any chance of finding one, he will have to travel into the forbidden Badwoods.

Xar doesn't realise he is about to capture an entirely different kind of enemy. A Warrior girl called Wish.

And inside this book, at this very moment, two worlds collide and the fate of the land is changed forever.

Xar and Wish must visit the dungeons at Warrior fort, and face the evil Queen.

But something that has been sleeping for hundreds of years is stirring ...

Cressida Cowell might be best known for her plentiful How To Train Your Dragon series, but this new series is well worth a read. It may be classed as a children’s book, but if you’re the sort of person (of any age) who likes dark, mysterious stories, full of magic and danger, then you’ll almost certainly enjoy this book.

The Warriors and the Wizards have fought over the forest for many years. But something is stirring deep in the forest, and Xar, son of the Great Encanzo the Enchanter, is keen to find out if it’s a witch. Witches are supposed to be extinct, but Xar’s not so sure.

Wish is the young princess of the Warriors, a un-warrior-like as can be. She asks questions, is curious to find things out, and never thinks of how much her mother, the stern Queen Sychorax, isn’t going to like it until it’s too late.

What adventures might these two unlikely heroes get up to? Plenty of them, that’s what. This story is a delight from start to finish, creepy at times, beautifully melancholy at others. There are quirky illustrations all the way through. I loved it to bits, but it should also suit middle-grade readers from about 9 and up.

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/03/review-the-wizards-of-once-cressida-cowell/feed/27115Review: What I Like About Me, Jenna Guillaumehttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/review-what-i-like-about-me-jenna-guillaume/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/review-what-i-like-about-me-jenna-guillaume/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2019 11:31:13 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7097Maisie is on her summer holidays before year twelve, spending Christmas with her family, her best friend Anna, and the Lee’s—the other family who usually spends the holidays with them. Including Sebastian Lee, who Maisie has had a crush on for ever, and his annoying friend, Beamer. Maisie has been... Read more »

You know all those movies where teenagers have, like, THE SUMMER OF THEIR LIVES?

This summer is probably not going to be that.

Source: Everything that's happened since yesterday ...

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she'd be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant.

Not when she's spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone.

Not when her Dad is AWOL for Christmas and her gorgeous older sister has returned to rock Maisie's shaky confidence. And her best friend starts going out with the boy she's always loved.

But Maisie's got something to prove.

As she writes down all the ways this summer is going from bad to worse in her school-assignment journal, what starts as a homework torture-device might just end up being an account of how Maisie didn't let anything, or anyone, hold her back...

Maisie is on her summer holidays before year twelve, spending Christmas with her family, her best friend Anna, and the Lee’s—the other family who usually spends the holidays with them. Including Sebastian Lee, who Maisie has had a crush on for ever, and his annoying friend, Beamer.

Maisie has been tasked to keep a journal over the holidays to record her ‘discoveries’, so this book is a series of journal entries in which Maisie describes each day. Everything is included, from days on the beach with her embarrassment at being unable to speak in front of Sebastian, to her disgust at Beamer’s antics, to her adventures with new friends.

Maisie’s journey from feeling like an outcast because of her body shape towards loving her own self is a familiar one to many. The way Maisie is treated by each of her family members and friends is different and reinforces that even something said with good intentions has the potential to hurt.

Teen summer dramas aren’t my usual choice for reading material, but it absolutely helped that Maisie was completely adorable. I loved that she was a movie buff, and loved Arnold Swarzenegger! The irreverent style that Jenna Guillaume is known for from her Buzzfeed days shows through in Maisie’s writing voice, compete with textual emojis.

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/review-what-i-like-about-me-jenna-guillaume/feed/47097Podcast Episode #66 – Akarnae and Other Magic Schoolshttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-66/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-66/#respondFri, 22 Feb 2019 14:01:53 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7100Welcome to the sixty-sixth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we give a joint, spoiler-free review of the Medoran Chronicles series, since the final book, Vardaesia was just released. We list some other magical school books for varying age groups, as... Read more »

]]>Welcome to the sixty-sixth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni.

In this episode, we give a joint, spoiler-free review of the Medoran Chronicles series, since the final book, Vardaesia was just released. We list some other magical school books for varying age groups, as well as catch up on what we’ve been reading. This episode was recorded on 22 February 2019.

We hope you enjoy listening and we would love to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would like us to talk about in particular? Just let us know!

You can listen to past episodes of the podcast, as well as the various ways to subscribe on the main podcast page. You can also record a voice message for us via the Speakpipe widget there.

Our title music is titled Sea of Dreams and has been used with the kind permission of the composer, Bart Stoop. You can hear more of Bart’s beautiful music at facebook.com/BartStoop.

Congratulations, Lynette! We loved all six books in this series – Anni over the last few years and Philippa in the last few weeks. We both gave the final book five stars.

Here’s the blurb for book 1, Akarnae:

With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings’s world changes—literally.

Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her… but he’s missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora’s boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own, but strange things are happening at Akarnae, and Alex can’t ignore her fear that something unexpected… something sinister… is looming.

An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex’s shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race’s survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home?

Will Alex risk her entire world—and maybe even her life—to save Medora?

Other books and things mentioned​

Sunday March 3, 6:30pm Rhianna Patrick’s show on ABC Radio – Listen to Anni talking about books too!

David Tennant does a podcast with… (Twitter link – podcast platform links available there) – Yes, I got it completely wrong when I said it was only BBC actors on it – there are plenty of interesting people involved!

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-66/feed/07100http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TeaintheTreetops-Ep66-Vardaesia.mp3Podcast Episode #65 – Kingdom of Ashhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-65/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-65/#respondTue, 05 Feb 2019 12:47:02 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7076Welcome to the sixty-fifth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni. In this episode, we share some fantasy and sci-fi books that we’re excited for in the first few months of 2019, we give a spoilery (and rather rambling) review on Kingdom of Ash,... Read more »

]]>Welcome to the sixty-fifth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Anni.

In this episode, we share some fantasy and sci-fi books that we’re excited for in the first few months of 2019, we give a spoilery (and rather rambling) review on Kingdom of Ash, as well as catch up on where we’ve been and what we’ve been reading. This episode was recorded on 1 February 2019.

We hope you enjoy listening and we would love to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would like us to talk about in particular? Just let us know!

You can listen to past episodes of the podcast, as well as the various ways to subscribe on the main podcast page. You can also record a voice message for us via the Speakpipe widget there.

Our title music is titled Sea of Dreams and has been used with the kind permission of the composer, Bart Stoop. You can hear more of Bart’s beautiful music at facebook.com/BartStoop.

Other books mentioned​

]]>http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2019/02/podcast-episode-65/feed/07076http://media.blubrry.com/teainthetreetops/www.teainthetreetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/TeaintheTreetops-Ep65-KingdomofAsh.mp3Review: The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars, Jaclyn Moriartyhttp://www.teainthetreetops.com/2018/10/review-the-slightly-alarming-tale-of-the-whispering-wars-jaclyn-moriarty/
http://www.teainthetreetops.com/2018/10/review-the-slightly-alarming-tale-of-the-whispering-wars-jaclyn-moriarty/#commentsThu, 25 Oct 2018 02:42:27 +0000http://www.teainthetreetops.com/?p=7030I was taken by Whisperers at 2pm, so I never pulled the lever for the laundry chute. That’s what bothered me most. This is way ahead in the story, though. A lot happened before that. Jaclyn Moriarty delivers again with another whimsical adventure set in the world of Kingdoms and... Read more »

The town of Spindrift is frequented by pirates, Shadow Mages and charlatans. It's also home to the Orphanage School, where Finlay lives with Glim, Taya and Eli. Just outside town is the painfully posh Brathelthwaite Boarding School, home to Honey Bee, Hamish and Victor, Duke of Ainsley. When the two schools compete at the Spindrift Tournament, stakes are high, tensions are higher, and some people are out to win at any cost. Before long, the orphans and the boarding school are in an all-out war.

And then Whispering Wars break out, and Spindrift is thrust onto the front lines. Children are being stolen, Witches, Sirens and a deadly magical flu invade the town, and all attempts to fight back are met with defeat.

Finlay, Honey Bee and their friends must join forces to outwit the encroaching forces of darkness, rescue the stolen children, and turn the tide of the war. But how can one bickering troupe outwit the insidious power of the Whisperers? And who are the two mysterious figures watching them from the shadows?

I was taken by Whisperers at 2pm, so I never pulled the lever for the laundry chute.
That’s what bothered me most.
This is way ahead in the story, though. A lot happened before that.

Jaclyn Moriarty delivers again with another whimsical adventure set in the world of Kingdoms and Empires. While it could be enjoyed as a standalone novel, this is best read after finishing its predecessor due to a smattering of cameos and events that featured in the first book.

Set at the beginning of the Whispering Wars in the town of Spindrift, the story alternates between two protagonists, Finlay and Honey Bee. These children are from two rival schools – the Orphanage School (Finlay) and Brathelthwaite Boarding School (Honey Bee) and all out war begins between them at the shocking conclusion of the Spindrift Tournament.

Strange things start happening in Spindrift and the greater world of Kingdoms and Empires [K&E], which include children vanishing and a terrible flu that is infecting townspeople and princes alike. When it is discovered that the Whispering Kingdom is responsible for all the terrible events that occur, war is soon declared. The K&E Forces move into town as lots of important people say it’s in a “very strategic location for both sides”. Brathelthwaite Boarding School soon hosts secret intelligence personnel who can be found mysteriously chanting and making odd suggestions about toenails and full moons. The novelty of war quickly wears off and the children find themselves putting aside their war of pranks and socioeconomic disparities to join forces and rescue the stolen children.

Like all of Jacyln’s previous novels the writing is lyrical, quirky and keeps the reader completely engaged. The banter between Finlay and Honey Bee plays out in a delightful conversational style and both of these characters are just full of gusto and life.

While adventurous and fun this story does touch on more profound topics of war, prejudice and fear, and it shows how this trifecta can often bring out the worst in people. Due to the fantastical setting, lighthearted prose and chocolate shop owning witches this is a wonderful introduction for middle grade children to get a small taste in complex global issues of race, refugees and ethics.

This novel was simply delicious and I devoured it, the same way Finlay devours twisty-pastries-with-melting-chocolate-inside for breakfast. This may be a children’s book however it is one that can be enjoyed by grownups as well, making this an excellent choice for reading out loud to the kids. The hard part for adults and children alike will be not sneaking in extra chapters before the next bedtime!